Clinical and (patho)genetic study of bicuspid aortic valve and associated aortic aneurysm.

The general aim of this project is to gain insight into the clinical course of BAV-associated TAA, into the pathogenic mechanisms leading to aneurysm formation and to unravel the underlying genetic basis.In this project we will correlate a specific subclassification of bicuspid aortic valves (Sievers classification) with cardiovascular characteristics including co-morbidity, arterial stiffness and eccentric flow patterns. In addition, we will investigate the contributionof different developmental pathways and identify the genetic basis using state-of-the-art techniques including microRNA profiling, Copy Number Variant analysis and exome sequencing.

Keywords:ANEURYSMS, CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, MEDICAL GENETICS

Disciplines:Cardiac and vascular medicine, Laboratory medicine, Medical systems biology, Molecular and cell biology